11 Sep 2023

National's health targets could hasten privatisation of health

From Morning Report, 8:10 am on 11 September 2023

National's newly announced health policy would set targets for medical wait times and cancer treatment.

The party also promises shorter stays in emergency departments, faster cancer treatment, improved immunisation rates, shorter wait times for initial specialist assessments and also for surgery.

But questions are being asked about how those targets would be met, given creaking infrastructure and chronic understaffing in our hospitals.

Dr Gary Payinda is an emergency doctor in Northland and Auckland.

Payinda spoke to Corin Dann.